The Ultimate Swimming Pool Quiz

Although swimming pools come in all shapes and sizes, nearly all pools function the same way to keep the water clean and chemically balanced. See how much you know about how swimming pools work by taking this quiz.

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Question 1 of 20

Why are swimming pools filled with water all year-round?

to equalize the pressure against the ground

A swimming pool actually floats in the ground water surrounding it. If the pool were to be emptied, the ground water pressure might push it out of the ground. Modern pools have a hydrostatic valve that allows ground water to flow in and equalize the pressure if necessary.

to allow for swimming at any time

to save water required to refill it

Question 2 of 20

Which pools are the cheapest to install?

a fiberglass pool

a gunite pool

an above-ground pool

Above-ground pools are the cheapest to install and they are the simplest type of pool to build.

Question 3 of 20

How often does the liner of a vinyl-lined pool need to be replaced?

every 5 years

every 10 years

A vinyl-lined, in-ground pool is constructed by digging a hole in the ground, assembling a metal, plastic or wood frame and lining the structural wall with vinyl. Vinyl-lined pools are cheaper than other in-ground pools but are not as durable. The vinyl lining will need replacing approximately every 10 years.

every 20 years

Question 4 of 20

Where are the main pool drains located?

in the pool walls

in the highest point of the pool floor

in the lowest point of the pool floor

There are usually two or more main drains in a pool and they are usually located at the lowest point of the pool, so that the surface of the pool floor slants towards them. Dirt and debris that sink will generally exit the pool through the main drains. Antivortex covers placed on the drains prevent hair or limbs getting caught in the plumbing and prevent a potentially dangerous vortex of water forming.

Question 5 of 20

What are pool skimmers?

drains at the top of the pool

The drains that sit near the top of the pool walls and collect floating debris, such as leaves, suntan oil or hair, are called skimmers.

special cloths that absorb oil from the top of the water

a vacuum system for the large debris at the bottom of the pool

Question 6 of 20

Pool filtering systems involve a lot of suction through inlet valves in the skimmers. How is the suction maintained at safe levels?

by having one drain open at a time

by having multiple drains

The only way the suction could be strong enough to hold someone against the a drain would be if only one drain were open. A properly designed pool will have multiple drains to spread the force of the suction between them. If one drain gets blocked, the system will pull water from the other drain, eliminating the suction force on the blocked drain.

with the help of a control dial

Question 7 of 20

Which part of the pool might be described as the heart of the pool?

the pump

The water pump is the heart of the pool. A typical system will have an electric motor spinning an impeller, which drives the water coming in from the drains through the filter and back out to the water inlets.

the drains

the chlorine

Question 8 of 20

Water flows through a metal strainer __ it flows through the pump.

before

To prevent the pump becoming clogged with large debris, water flows through a metal strainer before it enters the pump.

while

after

Question 9 of 20

What material are pool filters often made from?

fine mesh

sand

Sand filters are often used in the pool pump. Gravity pulls the water down through the sand to the bottom of the filter where it exits through an outlet pipe, but the dirt and debris gets caught in the tiny sand particles.

foam

Question 10 of 20

How can you know if your sand filter is overloaded with dirt?

You need to open them and check how much dirt is inside.

There are pressure gauges that indicate the level of blockage inside.

Pressure gauges indicate when the blockage level inside is increasing due to a build-up of dirt and debris slowing down the flow of water through the filter. If the pressure gauge shows more pressure on the inlet pipe than the outlet pipe then you know that your filter needs to be cleaned.

The pool filters get blocked and should be cleaned every month.

Question 11 of 20

What do you need to do if your filter needs cleaning?

Replace the entire filter unit.

Replace the sand in the filter.

Backwash the filter.

To clean the filter you need to backwash it. By readjusting a number of valves, water is redirected from the pump up through the sand, dislodging dirt and debris and flowing out into the sewer system.

Question 12 of 20

What is a diatomaceous earth filter system made from?

fossilized remains of sea organisms

Some pool systems use a diatomaceous earth filter system. In these systems, the water passes through a filter grid coated with diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder made from the fossilized remains of sea organisms.

very fine dirt found at high altitudes

a sand-like substance made of finely ground sea shells

Question 13 of 20

What governs how often water must pass through a filter system?

the law

By law, all the water in the pool must pass through the filter system over a certain period of time, usually between 30 minutes and six hours.

the pool owner

the pump system

Question 14 of 20

Why does pool water need to be topped up every so often with fresh water?

Water is lost by evaporation.

Water is lost by backwashing.

Both of the above.

Pool water may be lost by evaporation, backwashing and water that splashes out of the pools or is carried out on people's bodies or bathing suits. The pump is connected to a municipal water line so the pool can be topped-up when necessary.

Question 15 of 20

What may happen if the chemical balance of a pool is not maintained correctly?

The water will be difficult to heat.

Bacteria will grow in the pool.

Bacteria thrive in water so it is important to maintain a good chemical balance to prevent bacteria from being able to grow in the pool. An imbalance of pool chemicals can also cause damage to the pool, irritation to skin and eyes and the water may become cloudy.

The water may become salty.

Question 16 of 20

What is the chemical generally used as a pool disinfectant?

chlorine

Chlorine is the most popular pool disinfectant. It is used in the form of a chemical compound, such as calcium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite. Chlorine reacts with water and creates various chemicals, one of which is the hypochlorous acid that kills bacteria and other pathogens.

salt

bromide

Question 17 of 20

What form does chlorine come in?

liquid

powder

both of the above

Chlorine may come in liquid, powder or tablet form. Professionals may even use it in gas form. Pool experts recommend adding chlorine to the water just after the filtering process, but it can be added to the pool anywhere in the cycle.

Question 18 of 20

What does a strong pool smell indicate?

a clean pool

a dirty pool

Hypochlorous acid can combine with ammonia, found in urine, or with other substances and produce chloramines. Chloramines hinder the sanitizing process, since there is less free hypochlorous acid to kill germs, and it may irritate the skin and eyes. Chloramines are also responsible for the unpleasant odor sometimes smelt at pools, indicating that the pool is dirty.

a freshly cleaned pool

Question 19 of 20

What can change the effectiveness of chlorine?

the amount of water

the temperature of the water

the pH of the water

The pool pH level affects the effectiveness of chlorine. Chlorine will dissipate quickly if the water is too acidic and an alkaline pool will hinder the effectiveness of chlorine at destroying pathogens.

Question 20 of 20

What is the recommended pH range for a pool?

7.0 to 7.6

7.2 to 7.8

Pool experts generally recommend a pH of between 7.2 and 7.8. To change the pH, simply add acids, such as sodium bisulfate, or alkalis, such as sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, to the water.